2012 Aubert Chardonnay Sugar Shack- USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (11/23/2014)
We opened this to celebrate my wife’s birthday and had with cheese and crackers. I decanted this as it’s young and I really wanted the wine to open up. The wine was very aromatic, with silky mouthfeel to the body. It continued to open up as we drank it - fantastic stuff. I would recommend holding this for another year or two to let it come together - lots of stuffing, but it hasn’t settled down just yet. EXCELLENT. (96 pts.)
Nice, Scott. How about the oak? I was an Aubert Chardonnay cheerleader for years, and then kind of overnight, it became too much for me. Oh, how I loved the 2004 and 2005 Ritchies. I was not sure if they changed or I did.
Mark Aubert is a neighbor and a friend, and he certainly knows his way around winemaking. I am talking about personal preferences. How do you compare this to other vintages of Aubert?
There is some oak, but I thought it was just the right amount and complemented the wine. I don’t like overly buttery chards, but I’m no acid freak either. As for comparisions to other Auberts, this was my first foray into the wine, so I don’t have a baseline.
I’m sure you’re joking around, but I seriously didn’t find this to be a sweet wine. Definitely a chardonnay in the California style. I like Ceritas, LF, and enjoy Chablis and white burg as well, which this isn’t, but it’s certainly no Rombauer, despite Parker scoring this 100 points.
Interesting note. I opened one of the other designated wines a few months ago and found it to be one of the worst non-flawed wines I’ve had. Hot, disjointed and undrinkabke. It’s as if you could tatse each individual component that went into the blend. Even after a few hours it was brutal. Maybe this style just isn’t for me. Sold off my case. YMMV.
Disappointed that you had that experience. Not to drag the whole “critic thang” into this (I know you’re an experienced drinker), but the 2012’s were consistenly lauded across most of the critics. Do you remember which one you had? I might have held onto a bottle or two to see if they’d come togehter in a few years, but hey…if you don’t like them, I get it.
Speaking of critics, makes me recall some of past Allen Meadows reviews of Aubert pinots. Scores in the 70s I think. Maybe some cough syrup descriptors. Guessing he’s not welcome there anymore!
Had a taste of the 12 Ritchie a few months back, it was hurtin’ young, but seemed like it would be another good one. My lone bottle will stay in the cellar for a few years. Haven’t had any of the Sugar Shack yet, glad you enjoyed it Scott. how long a decant did you give it?
Just like I wouldn’t be likely to open a 2012 grand Cru white Burg at this point (or even a top 1er cru), I have put it out of my mind to try any of the 2012 Auberts for at least another 12-18 months…no rush. I’ve been opening 05s and 06s and have been very happy. Don’t even think I’ve opened a 2010 yet.
As a result, I am not sure if they have changed stylistically recently, but at least in my experience with the 02s on, they integrate nicely in my opinion.
When I did my Ritchie vertical 2.5 years ago (02-09), the 07 was the superstar (may have been my WOTY that year), with the 02 very close behind. The 08 and 09 were definitely nowhere near ready.
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Thought it was a dessert wine.